Fairy-tale ending still possible for Chargers

With his first offensive play, Rivers hit Antonio Gates, who made a one-handed grab of a ball thrown behind him for 15 yards. But the touchdown of 11 yards went to the other tight end, Brandon Manumaleuna.

Less than three minutes later, however, it was tied. A pooch kickoff by Kaeding was returned by Clifton Smith for 72 yards to the Chargers 11, and on first-and-goal at the 1, bowling-ball back B.J. Askew got a nose across the goal line.

On the final play of the quarter, LaDainian Tomlinson turned a short pass into a 22-yared gain to just inside the 15-yard line. A few snaps later, Gates also was the target on an 11-yard touchdown play, running across the backline while Rivers also ran to his left and threw a difficult ball over cornerback Ronde Barber.

A 28-yard field goal by Kaeding made it 17-7, which was answered by Bryant’s 49-yarder, which was trumped by Kaeding’s 57-yarder.

Things took a horrible turn for the Chargers in the third quarter, a San Diego lead of 20-10 vanishing with two clutch touchdown plays by Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia, one helped mightily by a glaring lack of pass coverage.

Garcia first drew the Bucs to within three points with a seven-yard keeper, going in standing up. Not long after a Chargers punt, Garcia began dancing around the pocket again, then unleashed a bit of a wobbler deep to primary receiver Antonio Bryant, who looked more like a return guy waiting for a punt, so long was the ball in the air and so wide open was he for the 71-yard touchdown.

The Chargers went back ahead with a 63-yard, 11-play drive, Rivers again scrambling and finding Gates for a 5-yard touchdown on the first play of the final quarter. The defense provided the offense opportunity to put the Bucs farther down as linebacker Stephen Cooper produced his fourth interception in three games, setting the Chargers up at the Tampa Bay 32-yard line.